INVESTING TO TURN THE TIDE ON PLASTIC WITH ROB KAPLAN - CEO OF CIRCULATE CAPITAL

In continuing our exploration of the plastic crisis for Plastic Free July, this week we are discussing the many challenges associated with addressing the plastic pollution problem in South and Southeast Asia, an issue that can be attributed to a number of systemic factors. A lack of meaningful government policy, investment in infrastructure, and education on waste disposal and environmentally friendly practice is exacerbated by the absence of coordinated corporate responsibility. 

A 2015 Ocean Conservancy report found that 55 to 60 percent of global ocean plastic pollution originates from just four countries in the region. While the aforementioned challenges have hindered effective attempts to transform the production and elimination of plastic in the region to date, there has been progress made in recent years. In 2018, the Malaysian government published a roadmap for the country’s elimination of single-use plastic by 2030, and Indonesia has announced a commitment to spend up to US$1 billion per year to reduce marine waste by 70% by 2025.

But while policy enactments and consumer-led actions are unquestionably positive trends, a significant gap will remain without industry-led solutions that can address the multifaceted challenges existing within plastic production and waste management systems with investment and innovation.

Investing for Impact with Rob Kaplan

Our latest podcast guest Rob Kaplan is a passionate environmentalist, and the founder and CEO of Circulate Capital, a Singapore-based investment firm that aims to identify, incubate and invest in opportunities that intercept, sort and process ocean-bound plastics in South and Southeast Asia. 

With big name investors including Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble, Rob has established the US$106m Circulate Capital Ocean Fund (CCOF), the world’s first investment fund dedicated to tackling the plastic issue in Asia. 

Recognising the financing gap between available private capital, and the ability to use that capital to create investable, innovative, and scalable solutions that could address the crisis, the CCOF is targeting waste management, circular economy and recycling startups, and small businesses in the region. Providing both debt and equity financing, the fund has recently announced investments in Tridi Oasis, an Indonesian female-led plastic recycling company, and Lucro, a Mumbai-based manufacturer specialising in films and flexible plastics that are often ignored and difficult to recycle. 

Rob has a proven track record in improving recycling and advancing the circular economy in North America in his previous role as co-founder and Senior Advisor to Closed Loop Partners. In this episode, Rob shares with us his vision for Circulate Capital moving forward and discusses the challenges he’s encountered and the successes he’s achieved to date.

For more information on Rob and his work visit:

Circulate Capital 

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